How to Fix a Front Door Lock of a House That Is Sticking

by Emily Beach

Don't let a sticking front door lock force you to use the back door.

An effective front door lock keeps out burglars, but when you find yourself struggling to enter your own home, it may be time to adjust your lockset. Sticking door locks can be attributed to everything from slight settling of the house to a buildup of dust and dirt within the locking mechanism. Fortunately, most front door lock problems can be solved in just a few minutes to restore easy access for you and your family.

Filing the Strike

1

Open the door wide and put on a pair of safety glasses to protect your eyes.

2

Inspect the strike plate on the edge of the door frame. A latch bolt that sticks in the strike often leave tell-tale marks or scrapes on the strike plate.

3

Equip a rotary tool with a carbide tip bit. Insert the tip into the latch opening on the strike plate and use it to grind away a bit of metal to enlarge the opening. Use any marks or scrapes on the plate as a guide to help you decide which edges of the strike plate may need to be adjusted.

4

Open and close the door to test your work. Continue to grind the latch opening a bit at a time until it successfully engages the latch without sticking.

Cleaning and Lubrication

1

File burrs or rough edges from keys using a metal file. These rough sections could be preventing your key from turning properly and engaging the tumblers in your lock.

2

Insert the tip of a tube of powdered graphite into the keyhole. Squeeze the tube to inject a few puffs of graphite into the hole. Insert your key and turn it a few times to work the graphite into the cylinder and lubricate the lock.

3

Move to the edge of the door. Grasp the doorknob with one hand and turn it to retract the latch. Insert the tip of your powdered graphite tube into the opening around the latch and inject a few puffs of graphite. Turn the knob a few times so the graphite can lubricate the area around the latch.

Things You Will Need

Safety glasses

Rotary tool

Metal file

Powdered graphite

Tip

Make sure the hinges are tight before modifying the strike plate. Loose upper hinges allow the door to tilt, often misaligning the latch with the strike. Tighten all hinge screws and check the latch operation.

About the Author

Emily Beach works in the commercial construction industry in Maryland. She received her LEED accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council in 2008 and is in the process of working towards an Architectural Hardware Consultant certification from the Door and Hardware Institute. She received a bachelor's degree in economics and management from Goucher College in Towson, Maryland.

Photo Credits

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